Newcastle University

Introduction

I graduated in Microbiology at Trinity College, Dublin and obtained my PhD degree in bacterial genetics in Melbourne. I then worked in a CSIRO Food Laboratory in Brisbane and the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa before joining the Dental Research Unit of the Royal College of Surgeons of England to lead a group investigating a vaccine against dental caries. I moved to Newcastle in 1991 to take the chair of Oral Biology and continued my research on applying molecular genetic technques to the bacteria important in dental caries.

I retired from the University in July 2009.

Qualifications

BA(mod), PhD, FDSRCS (by election)

Memberships

International Association for Dental Research.
Society for General Microbiology.
American Society for Microbiology.
Association of Basic Science Teachers in Dentistry.

Honours and Awards

Elected to Fellowship in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1986 in recognition of contributions to research in dental science.

Distinguished Scientist Research in Dental Caries Award of the International Association for Dental Research, 1996.

Research Interests

Application of molecular genetic techniques to the study of oral streptococci.
Pathways for sugar uptake and metabolism.
Structure-function relationships of glucosyltransferases which synthesize polymers from sucrose.
Genomic evolution of Streptococcus mutans.
Antibacterial dental materials.

Current Work

The main research interests of my group concern studies of the genome of Streptococcus mutans to explore mechanisms of chromosomal deletion and to identify surface proteins. With the recent completion of the genome sequence of Streptococcus mutans, we are applying microarray technology to examine variation in virulence traits within the species and to study the transmission and population biology of this important oral pathogen.

Glucosyltransferases of oral streptococci are responsible for formation of sticky polymers (glucans) from sucrose and so are of major importance in determining the properties of dental plaque and influencing the processes that can lead to dental caries. In collaboration with groups in the USA and France, we are exploring structure-function relationships of various glucosyltransferases. We are also carrying out studies of the glucan-binding domain and are exploiting information from the Streptococcus mutans genome sequence to identify novel proteins involved in adhesion.

Postgraduate Supervision

Esteem Indicators

Elected to Fellowship in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1986 in recognition of contributions to research in dental science.

Distinguished Scientist Research in Dental Caries Award of the International Association for Dental Research, 1996.

Funding

Research has been funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust, European Commission, Nuffield Foundation, US National Institutes of Health, British Council, Newcastle Healthcare Charity and various industrial sources.

Patents

Colman G, Russell RRB: Protection against dental caries: Patent 2033223 B, U.K. Patent 1983. (also patented in 16 other countries).

• Izutani N, Imazato S, Nakajo K, Takahashi N, Takahashi Y, Ebisu S, Russell RRB. Effects of the antibacterial monomer 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB) on bacterial viability and metabolism. European Journal of Oral Sciences 2011, 119(2), 175-181.
• Do T, Gilbert S, Clark D, Ali F, Fatturi Parolo C, Maltz M, Russell R, Holbrook P, Wade W, Beighton D. Generation of diversity in Streptococcus mutans genes demonstrated by MLST. PLoS ONE 2010, 5(2), e9073.
• Russell RRB. Bacterial Polysaccharides in Dental Plaque. In: Ullrich M, ed. Bacterial Polysaccharides: Current Innovations and Future Trends. Norfolk: Caister Academic Press, 2009, pp. 143-158.
• Old LA, Russell RRB. Distribution and activity of IS elements in Streptococcus mutans. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2008, 287(2), 199-204.
• Russell RRB. How has genomics altered our view of caries microbiology?. Caries Research 2008, 42(5), 319-327.
• Russell RRB. The Molecular Biology of Cariogenic Bacteria. In: Rogers AH, ed. Molecular Oral Microbiology. Norfolk: Caister Academic Press, 2008, pp. 109-133.
• Waterhouse JC, Swan DC, Russell RRB. Comparative genome hybridization of Streptococcus mutans strains. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 2007, 22(2), 103-110.
• Waterhouse JC, Russell RRB. Dispensable genes and foreign DNA in Streptococcus mutans. Microbiology 2006, 152(6), 1777-1788.
• Old LA, Lowes S, Russell RRB. Genomic variation in Streptococcus mutans: Deletions affecting the multiple pathways of β-glucoside metabolism. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 2006, 21(1), 21-27.
• Shah DSH, Russell RRB. A novel glucan-binding protein with lipase activity from the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans. Microbiology 2004,150 6 1947-1956.
• Shah DSH, Joucla G, Remaud-Simeon M, Russell RRB. Conserved repeat motifs and glucan binding by glucansucrases of oral streptococci and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Journal of Bacteriology 2004,186 24 8301-8308.
• Takahashi Y, Imazato S, Russell RRB, Noiri Y, Ebisu S. Influence of resin monomers on growth of oral streptococci. Journal of Dental Research 2004,83 4 302-306.
• Imazato S, Ebi N, Takahashi Y, Kaneko T, Ebisu S, Russell RRB. Antibacterial activity of bactericide-immobilized filler for resin-based restoratives. Biomaterials 2003,24 20 3605-3609.
• Imazato S, Kuramoto A, Kaneko T, Ebisu S, Russell RRB. Comparison of antibacterial activity of simplified adhesive systems. American Journal of Dentistry 2002, 15(6), 356-360.
• Shah DSH, Russell RRB. Glucan binding domain of streptococcal glucosyltransferases. In: Biologia: 1st Symposium on the Alpha-Amylase Family. 2002, Smolenice Castle, Slovakia: Slovak Academic Press Ltd.
• Wright WG, Thelwell C, Svensson B, Russell RRB. Inhibition of catalytic and glucan-binding activities of a streptococcal GTF forming insoluble glucans. Caries Research 2002,36 5 353-359.
• Harris JI, Russell RRB, Curtis MA, Aduse-Opoku J, Taylor JJ. Molecular mediators of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced T-cell apoptosis. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 2002, 17(4), 224-230.
• Russell RRB. Oral infections. In: Sussman, M, ed. Molecular Medical Microbiology. New York: Academic Press, 2002, pp.1065-1079.
• Russell RRB. Oral Infections. In: Sussman, M, ed. Molecular Medical Microbiology. London: Academic Press, 2002, pp.1065-1079.
• Diaz-Torres ML, Russell RRB. HtrA protease and processing of extracellular proteins of Streptococcus mutans. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2001, 204(1), 23-28.
• Diaz-Torres ML, Russell RRB. Influence of the htrA gene on surface properties of Streptococcus mutans. In: British Society for Dental Research & Irish Division: Joint Meeting. 2001, Belfast, UK: Sage Publications, Inc.
• Shah DSH, Thelwell C, Russell RRB. Mutational analysis of glucan-binding proteins of oral streptoccoci. In: British Society for Dental Research & Irish Division: Joint Meeting. 2001, Belfast, UK: Sage Publications, Inc.
• Monchois V, Vignon M, Escalier P-C, Svensson B, Russell RRB. Involvement of Gln937 of streptococcus downei GTF-I glucansucrase in transition-state stabilization. European Journal of Biochemistry 2000, 267(13), 4127-4136.
• Janecek S, Svensson B, Russell RRB. Location of repeat elements in glucansucrases of Leuconostoc and Streptococcus species. FEMS Microbiology Letters 2000, 192(1), 53-57.
• Monchois V, Vignon M, Russell RRB. Mutagenesis of Asp-569 of glucosyltransferase I glucansucrase modulates glucan and oligosaccharide synthesis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2000, 66(5), 1923-1927.
• Imazato S, Ebi N, Tarumi H, Russell RRB, Kaneko T, Ebisu S. Bactericidal activity and cytotoxicity of antibacterial monomer MDPB. Biomaterials 1999, 20(9), 899-903.
• Colby SM, McLaughlin RE, Ferretti JJ, Russell RRB. Effect of inactivation of gtf genes on adherence of Streptococcus downei. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 1999, 14(1), 27-32.
• V. Monchois, M. Arguello-Morales and R. R. B. Russell. Isolation of an active catalytic core of Streptococcus downei MFe28 GTF-I glucosyltransferase. Journal of Bacteriology 1999, 181, 2290-2292.
• V. Monchois, M. Vignon and R. R. B. Russell. Isolation of key amino acid residues at the N-terminal end of the core region Streptococcus downei glucansucrase, GTF-I. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 1999, 52, 660-665.
• Russell R.R.B. and Monchois V. Mutagenesis of the catalytic core of a streptococcal glucosyltransferase. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999.
• V. Monchois, J. H. Lakey and R. R. B. Russell. Secondary structure of Streptococcus downei GTF-I glucansucrase. Fems Microbiology Letters 1999, 177, 243-248.
• P. J. Moynihan, S. Ferrier, S. Blomley, W. G. Wright and R. R. B. Russell. Acid production from lactulose by dental plaque bacteria. Letters in Applied Microbiology 1998, 27, 173-177.
• S. Imazato, T. Imai, R. R. B. Russell, M. Torii and S. Ebisu. Antibacterial activity of cured dental resin incorporating the antibacterial monomer MDPB and an adhesion-promoting monomer. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 1998, 39, 511-515.
• C. L. Simpson and R. R. B. Russell. Identification of a homolog of CcpA catabolite repressor protein in Streptococcus mutans. Infection and Immunity 1998, 66, 2085-2092.
• C. L. Simpson and R. R. B. Russell. Intracellular alpha-amylase of Streptococcus mutans. Journal of Bacteriology 1998, 180, 4711-4717.
• V. Monchois, M. RemaudSimeon, R. R. B. Russell, P. Monsan and R. M. Willemot. Characterization of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-512F dextransucrase (DSRS) and identification of amino-acid residues playing a key role in enzyme activity. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 1997, 48, 465-472.
• C. R. Lewis and R. R. B. Russell. Chromosomal deletions in Streptococcus mutans. Streptococci and the Host 1997, 418, 677-679.
• S. Imazato, Y. Kinomoto, H. Tarumi, M. Torii, S. Ebisu and R. R. B. Russell. Development of comprehensive antibacterial dentine bonding system containing MDPB. Journal of Dental Research 1997, 76, 1949-1949.
• McCabe JF, Imazato S, Russell RRB and Kinomoto Y. Incorporation of antibacterial monomer MDPB into dentin primer. Journal of Dental Research 1997, 76, 768-772.
• S. M. Colby and R. R. B. Russell. Sugar metabolism by mutans streptococci. Journal of Applied Microbiology 1997, 83, S80-S88.
• S. Imazato, Y. Kinomoto, H. Tarumi, M. Torii, R. R. B. Russell and J. F. McCabe. Bond strength and curing of dentine primer incorporating antibacterial monomer. Journal of Dental Research 1996, 75, 873-873.
• D. Ajdic, I. C. Sutcliffe, R. R. B. Russell and J. J. Ferretti. Organization and nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus mutans galactose operon. Gene 1996, 180, 137-144.